title: Total ear canal ablation combining bulla osteotomy and curettage in dogs with chronic otitis externa and media.
abstract: Ear canal ablation combining bulla osteotomy and curettage was performed on 44 dogs (n = 72 ears). Indications for the procedure included one or more of the following: chronic nonresponsive otitis externa and/or media (n = 71), tumor in the horizontal portion of the ear canal (n = 1), failed lateral ear resection (n = 11), ossified auricular cartilages secondary to chronic otitis externa (n = 22), failed previous total ear canal ablation (n = 1), and otitis interna (n = 1). In 40 dogs, the surgery was successful in alleviating all clinical signs of otitis externa and media. During the immediate postoperative period, 2 dogs died of causes unrelated to otitis. Complications related to the surgery developed in 9 of the surviving 42 dogs. Ultimately, 95% (40 of the surviving 42) of the dogs were cured by use of this procedure. Surgery successfully resolved the original problems in 97% (66 of 68) of the surgically treated ears of these dogs.
authors.affiliation: South Shore Veterinary Associates, South Weymouth, MA 02190.
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Beckman
authors.forename: W B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Henry
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cechner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003475:Curettage / Q000662:veterinary; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D004285:Dogs; D004424:Ear Canal / Q000601:surgery*; D004432:Ear, Middle / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D010027:Osteotomy / Q000662:veterinary; D010032:Otitis Externa / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000662:veterinary